Container having an arched portion and Lid Therefor

ABSTRACT

A container includes a bowl having a bottom and a sidewall, wherein a ledge is disposed on an inner surface of the sidewall and includes two opposing horizontal portions having a lowermost portion defining a first plane therebetween. A paperboard lid is removably retained within the bowl, wherein the lid includes an apex that lies in a second plane, which is parallel to the first plane. The distance between the first plane and the second plane is between about 0.15 cm to about 1.3 cm.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable

REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

SEQUENTIAL LISTING

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Background

The present disclosure relates to a container having a disposable paper lid.

2. Description of the Background

Consumers have a variety of food storage needs, which have been provided for by various disposable containers for storing food products and other contents. Typically, these containers include a bowl or other receptacle with a lid that fits on the bowl to seal the container. These containers are typically designed to be throwaway items that can only be used one time, or are fashioned from non-biodegradable materials that allow the container and lid to be re-usable to consumers indefinitely. Thus, there is a need for a less expensive, semi-disposable container, made out of environmentally friendly materials.

Single use containers having lids made of paperboard or other similar materials are also known in the art. However, these container are not reusable. Rather, the containers and lids are designed to be used once and then disposed of. Besides not being reusable, concerns have arisen over the seal provided by such containers and paper lids.

Moreover, prior art containers with paper lids are incapable of withstanding significant loads being placed thereon and have therefore not been traditionally used in connection with food storage. For example, a container with a paper lid that is placed in a lunch bag, which might also separately contain fruit, drinks, snacks, or other items that could be placed on top of the container, would likely exert too great of a force on the lid and cause same to become unsealed from the container. Alternatively, these prior art containers used the food product within the container to support the lid from below to prevent it from collapsing under a load from above. As such, only foodstuffs that would not deflect or be damaged by a load from above could be used with these containers and paper lids.

Thus, the prior art fails to provide for a container having a disposable paper lid that provides a good seal with a container. Additionally, the prior art fails to provide for containers with paper lids that are capable of withstanding loads without deforming the lid or the contents within the container.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, a container includes a bowl having a bottom and a sidewall, wherein a ledge is disposed on an inner surface of the sidewall and includes two opposing horizontal portions having a lowermost portion defining a plane Y therebetween. A paperboard lid is removably retained within the bowl, wherein the lid includes an apex that lies in a plane Z, which is parallel to the plane Y. The distance between the plane Y and the plane Z is about 0.15 cm to about 1.3 cm.

According to another embodiment, a bowl for a container includes a bottom, a sidewall, and a ledge disposed on an interior surface of the sidewall. The ledge includes at least one arched portion and at least one horizontal portion. The arched portion has a radius of curvature of about 15 cm to about 160 cm.

According to yet another embodiment, a lid includes a body portion having a planar profile in a non-deflected state and first and second pairs of opposing edges. The first and second pairs of edges are coextensive with the planar profile of the body portion in the non-deflected state when not placed on a container. The first pair of edges is coextensive and the second pair of edges is not coextensive with the planar profile of the body portion in the non-deflected state when the body portion is placed on a container and in a deflected state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a first embodiment of a container including a lid and a bowl;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 taken along the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 3A is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1 taken along the line 4-4 thereof, wherein the lid has been omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 4A is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial top plan view of the bowl of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5A is an enlarged partial top plan view of another embodiment of the bowl of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a bottom wall and two sidewalls of a further embodiment of a bowl for a container;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a lid including a removable disc; and

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the bowl of FIG. 6 showing the removable disc of FIG. 7 inserted into the bottom wall of the bowl.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a container 100 that includes a bowl 102 and a removable lid 104. While the container 100 is illustrated as being generally square, it is contemplated that the container 100 may have any different shape, such as circular, rectangular, or any curvilinear or polygonal shape, for example.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lid 104 of the present embodiment includes a generally planar body portion 106 having two pairs of parallel opposing edges 106A:106C and 106B:106D. When the lid 104 is not in use, the edges 106A-D have substantially no curvature, and a plane X defined by the planar body portion 106 also has substantially no curvature (see FIG. 2). The lid also includes a tab 108 for assisting in removing the lid 104 from the bowl 102. However, it is contemplated that in other embodiments the tab 108 may be omitted. The lid 104 is preferably made of a disposable material such as paperboard, micro-corrugate paper, and the like and may be coated in a wax or a polyethylene film layer to provide moisture resistance and waterproofing. Paper lids are beneficial for many reasons, including that they are cheaper to manufacture than non-paper lids, they are biodegradable, and it is relatively easy to print graphics and text on paper lids.

The bowl 102 generally includes a bottom 110 for resting on a support surface (not shown) and a continuous sidewall 112 extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom 110 to define a bowl cavity 114. The sidewall 112 terminates in a continuous rim 116, which defines an opening 118 of the bowl 102. The bowl 102 is preferably reusable and integrally molded from a seamless thermoplastic such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyolefin, or other resilient polymeric material. As will be described in more detail below, the engagement between the bowl 102 and the lid 104 can generally be described as an interference fit, in which the body portion 106 of the lid 104 is larger than the opening 118 of the bowl 102. The interference fit causes the lid 104 to press against the bowl 102, thus frictionally engaging the bowl to provide a seal between the bowl 102 and the lid 104.

With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the sidewall 112 of the bowl 102 includes four sidewall portions 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D connected by corner portions 120A, 120B, 120C, and 120D. A peripheral ledge 122 is provided within the bowl cavity 114 on an inner surface 124 of the sidewall 112. In a preferred embodiment, the ledge 122 includes horizontal portions 122A and 122C, which are substantially parallel to the bottom 110 and disposed on the sidewall portions 112A and 112C, respectively. It is preferred that the horizontal portions 122A, 122C have substantially no curvature. As shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal portions 122A, 122C define a plane Y, which is substantially parallel to the bottom 110 of the bowl 102. More particularly, because it is envisioned that the bottom 110 of the bowl may comprise various continuous and/or discontinuous curved or polygonal structural elements, the bottom 110 of the bowl is generally characterized as being defined by portions thereof that interact with a planar support surface as depicted by plane S. Further, to the extent that alternative embodiments include varying portions defining the ledge 122, the plane Y is to be defined by the lowermost portion of the ledge 122, i.e., portions of the ledge 122 closest to the bottom 110 and the inner surface 124 of the sidewall 112. With respect to sidewall portions 112B and 112D, the ledge 122 includes generally arched portions 122B and 122D, respectively. However, it is also contemplated that each portion 122A-D of the ledge 122 may be horizontal, i.e., planar with respect to the bottom 110, or each portion 122A-D of the ledge 122 may be arched, i.e., non-planar with respect to the bottom 110, or any combination of the portions 122A-D may be horizontal or arched. In a preferred embodiment, the arched portions 122B and 122D of the ledge have a radius of curvature R of between about 15 cm to about 160 cm.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bowl 102 further includes a plurality of nubs 126 disposed around the periphery of the inner surface 124 of the bowl 102 above the ledge 122. The nubs 126 generally follow the curvature of the portions 122A-D of the ledge 122 and maintain a substantially uniform distance D above the ledge 122. The distance D is preferably between about 100% to about 300% of a thickness T of the lid 104. In the present embodiment, the thickness T of the lid 104 is about 0.05 cm and the distance D is about 0.1 cm. The nubs 126 extend inwardly toward a center of the container from the inner surface 124 of the sidewall 112 a distance or length L. The length L is preferably between about 0.01 cm to about 0.2 cm. The length L of the nubs 126 may be uniform or may vary as described in more detail below. In the present embodiment, thirty-two nubs 126 are disposed above the ledge 122, however, greater or fewer numbers of nubs 126 may be used. Exemplary embodiments may utilize any number of nubs 126, but it is preferable to include at least one to fifty nubs 126. For example, the bowl 102 may include eight nubs 126. Alternatively, the bowl 102 may include a single nub 126 disposed around the entire periphery of the inner surface 124 of the bowl 102.

Turning to FIGS. 3-4, the ledge 122 of the present embodiment is generally defined by a surface 130, which extends from an innermost portion 132 adjacent the sidewall 112 to a distal end 134 closer to an interior of the bowl 102. Preferably, the surface 130 defining the arched portions 122B and 122D of the ledge 122 lies in a plane that is generally parallel with the plane Y and the bottom plane S (see FIG. 4). In contrast, the surface 130 of the horizontal portions 122A and 122C is angled to assist in imparting curvature to the lid 104 during use, which will be described in greater detail below. Preferably, the angled surface 130 has an angle Ø of between about 2 degrees to about 10 degrees (see FIG. 3A). In this embodiment, the plane Y is defined as extending through the innermost portion 132 of the ledge 122. Further, it is also contemplated that in other embodiments one or more portions of the sidewall 112 may be provided with flat and/or angled surfaces.

The plurality of nubs 126 and the ledge 122 are designed to enhance the sealing integrity between the bowl 102 and the lid 104. The nubs 126 and the ledge 122 define a gap 135 therebetween for retaining the lid 104 within the bowl 102. The gap 135 may be best characterized as the distance D between the innermost portion of the ledge 132, i.e., the portion of the ledge 122 adjacent the inner surface 124 of the bowl 102, and the corresponding portion of the nub 126. In a preferred embodiment, as noted above, the distance D is uniform. However, it is also contemplated that the distance D may vary throughout the length of the sidewall 112. For example, the ledge 122 and/or nubs 126 of the sidewall portions 112A-D of the present embodiment may be modified, i.e., spaced from one another, to create a uniformly narrowing or expanding distance D as the ledge 122 and nubs 126 extend toward the corner portions 120A-D. In one embodiment, it is contemplated that the variation in distance D may be from about 0% to about 200% of the distance D, and more preferably from about 10% to about 100% of the distance D, and most preferably from about 10% to about 50% of the distance D. In use, the nubs 126 provide resistance as the lid 104 is inserted and removed from the bowl. 102. To remove the lid 104 from the bowl 102, the edges 106A-D of the lid 104 must be moved past the relatively rigid nubs 126. Thus, the plurality of nubs 126 assist in maintaining the engagement between the lid 104 and the bowl 102.

The operation of the plurality of nubs 126 and the ledge 122 to engage the lid 104 with the bowl 102 is best understood by reference to FIGS. 3-4. To close the container 100, a user first loosely aligns the lid 104 within the opening 118 of the bowl 102 and subsequently presses down on the lid 104. As the user presses on the lid 104, the edges 106A-D of the planar body portion 106 are forced downwardly pass the plurality of nubs 126 and rest on the ledge 122 within the gap 135 between the ledge 122 and the nubs 126. Because of the size difference between the lid 104 and the opening 118 of the bowl 102, forcing the edges 106A-D of the lid 104 into the gap 135 impinges the lid 104 and creates a sealing force between the lid 104 and the bowl 102. This sealing force releasably seals the lid 104 to the bowl 102, without interfering with the subsequent removal of the lid 104 from the bowl 102. The sealing force between the lid 104 and the bowl 102 preserves the freshness of the contents within the container 100. In one embodiment, the amount of water vapor lost from the contents of the bowl 102 through the seal is less than or equal to about 0.5%.

When placed in a pre-operative position above the bowl 102, the plane X defining the body portion 106 of the lid 104 is substantially coextensive with the plane Y of the ledge 122. The arched portions 122B and 122D of the ledge 122 cause the lid 104 to arch upwardly from the planes X and Y to an apex 136 as shown in FIG. 3. An in-use plane Z is thereby defined, which is parallel to the plane Y and coextensive with the apex 136. The distance D2 of the plane Z above the plane Y is preferably about 0.15 cm to about 1.3 cm. In the present embodiment, the distance D2 is about 0.48 cm. The lid 104 also includes a radius of curvature of between about 15 cm to about 160 cm, which may be greater than the radius of curvature of the second parallel edges 106B:106D. The second pair of parallel edges 106B and 106D also have a maximum height H above the plane Y, which is preferably in the range of about 0.15 cm to about 2 cm. In one embodiment, the maximum height H is coextensive with the distance D2 of the plane Z, however, in other embodiments the maximum height H is lower than the distance D2. In the present embodiment, the first pair of parallel edges 106A:106C are co-extensive with the plane Y.

In one alternative embodiment, the portions 122A-D of the ledge 122 are all horizontal and the edges 106A-D of the lid are all substantially disposed entirely coextensive with the plane Y. In this embodiment, the lid 104 is slightly larger than the opening 118 of the bowl 102, which when the lid 104 is wedged within the bowl 102, causes the lid 104 to arch upwardly while the edges 106A-D of the lid 104 remain substantially coextensive with the plane Y.

Having the lid 104 arch gives the paper lid 104 a greater ability to withstand a vertical load F without relying on contents within the container 100 to support the lid 104 from below. The arched lid 104 allows the container 100 to hold food and other contents that are not rigid enough to support a paper lid from below without smashing, crushing, or otherwise exerting unwanted forces on the food or other contents of the container 100. If the lid 104 was not arched, any vertical load F on the top of the lid 104 would cause it to deflect inwardly, thereby unsealing the lid 104 from the bowl 102 and potentially harming the contents disposed within the container 100. The arched lid 104 of the present embodiment can withstand a maximum vertical load F of about 8 N to about 18 N before the lid 104 begins to deflect.

In addition to withstanding greater vertical loads F than traditional flat paper lids, another advantage of the arched lid 104 is that it deflects condensation away from the contents of the container 100. For example, when a sandwich is placed within a container or plastic bag, condensation may form within the container or bag, thereby causing the sandwich to become soggy or otherwise filled with unwanted moisture. In the present embodiment, the bottom 110 of the bowl 102 includes a raised surface 138. The raised surface 138 and the sidewall 112 define a trough 140 therebetween (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In use, a sandwich or other content is placed onto the raised surface 138 of the container 100. When the container 100 is closed, condensation may form on an underside 142 of the lid 104. Any condensation formed will run down the arched lid 104 toward the sidewall 112. The condensation is thereafter directed down the sidewall 112 of the container 100 where it is captured within the trough 140. The raised surface 138 prevents the sandwich or other contents within the container 100 from coming in contact with the condensation collected in the trough 140 and from becoming soggy or otherwise filled with unwanted moisture. It is also contemplated that instead of the trough 140 and raised surface 138, a condensation shield wall (not shown) may extend upwardly from the bottom wall 110 near the sidewalls 112 of the container 100 to prevent the condensation from reaching the contents of the container 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, each sidewall portion 112A, 112B, 112C, and 112D of the present embodiment includes a space 144A, 144B, 144C, 144D, respectively (spaces 144A and 144B are not shown, but are a mirror image of 144C and 144D, respectively), between the nubs 126. The spaces 144A-D are designed to accommodate the tab 108 of the lid 104 therein when seated within the bowl 102. The spaces 144A-D also facilitate the removal of the lid 104 from the bowl 102 while maintaining the integrity of the seal. For example, to remove the lid 104, the user grasps the tab 108 and pulls the lid 104 out from under the plurality of nubs 126. The spaces 144A-D are located in substantially similar locations on each of the sidewall portions 112A-D, thereby allowing the spaces 144A-D to receive the tab 108 of the lid 104 no matter how the user aligns the lid 104 before insertion. The corresponding locations of the spaces 144A-D therefore allow the user to insert the lid 104 without thinking about how the lid 104 should be aligned, thereby protecting against the user's incorrect insertion of the lid 104. The provision of the spaces 144A-D further prevents the tab 108 from interfering with the plurality of nubs 126. If the tab 108 rests over a nub 126, there would be a space between the lid 104 and the bowl 102, thereby compromising the seal of the container 100 and the freshness of the contents within the container 100. In embodiments where the lid 104 does not include a tab 108, the spaces 144A-D may be omitted.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 5A, the present embodiment provides for varying lengths L of the plurality of nubs 126 to accommodate for variations in lid 104 sizes. The length L is defined as the distance between an innermost portion 146 of the nub 126 adjacent the inner surface 124 of the sidewall 112 to a distal portion 148 closer to the interior of the bowl 102 (see FIGS. 3A and 4A). As shown in FIG. 5, the nubs 126 extend farther into the bowl cavity 114, i.e., the length L is greater, as one moves from the corner portions 120A-D of the sidewall 112 toward the spaces 144A-D or a central portion of the sidewall 112. The longer nubs 126 allow for slightly smaller lids 104 to be used with the bowl 102 without the risk of improperly sealing the container 100. For example, if a lid 104 is slightly smaller than normally desired, it may still be retained under the longer nubs 126 of the bowl 102. Further, providing nubs 126 with smaller lengths L adjacent the corners 120A-D of the sidewall 112 assists in allowing peripheral corner portions of appropriately sized lids to deflect past the nubs 126 and be otherwise seated properly. The square-shaped lid 104 of the present embodiment provides for significantly less deflection adjacent corners 150 of the body portion 106 (see FIG. 2). Thus, the lid 104 is able to deflect over the larger nubs 126 adjacent the spaces 144A-144D, but would not be able to (or would otherwise encounter significant resistance that might alarm a user or harm the lid) deflect a sufficient amount to pass over longer nubs near the corners 120A-D of the bowl 104. Therefore, by reducing the length L of the nubs 126 adjacent the corner portions 120A-D, placement and removal of the lid 104 is facilitated. Using a similar tapering length profile to the nubs 126 is also beneficial to other bowls that have shapes that include corners, e.g., other polygonal shapes, such as a hexagon.

The variation in the length of the nubs 126 may be provided as a continuous tapering or in discrete stepped intervals about entire nubs or portions of one or more nubs 126. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the individual nubs have a uniform length L that is smaller for the nubs nearer the corner portions 120A-D. FIG. 5A shows an alternative embodiment, in which the length L of a single nub 126 may vary along a width W of the nub 126 so that the length L is larger near the space 144D and continuously tapers inwardly to a smaller length L adjacent the corner portion 120C of the sidewall 112. It is contemplated that the greatest length L is preferably provided within a range of about 0.01 cm to about 0.2 cm. In the present embodiment, the length L of the nubs 126 nearest the spaces 144A-D will have a length L of about 0.11 cm.

In certain embodiments, the bowl 102 is successively reused with a plurality of disposable lids 102. To illustrate, in one example, a user places food within the bowl 102 of the container 100 and uses a first disposable lid 104 to seal the bowl 102. At lunch, the disposable lid 104 is removed, the food consumed, and the disposable lid. 104 is thereafter disposed of while the bowl 102 kept for later re-use. The bowl 102 may be washed and made available for use with another disposable lid 104. In other embodiments, a life span of the disposable lid 104 is beyond a single use, such as a discrete number of uses or a set time frame. It is also contemplated that the lid 104 can be used as a sanitary surface upon which the user may place his or her food while eating, prior to disposing of the lid 104.

Referring now to FIGS. 6-8 another embodiment of a container 200 is shown, which is similar to the container described above except for the differences noted below. In this embodiment an underside 202 of the bottom 110 of the bowl 102 includes a reservoir 204 that is designed to receive a removable communication member 206 therein (see FIG. 7). In the present embodiment, the reservoir 204 is designed to retain a generally rectangular communication member 206, however, the reservoir 204 could be designed to receive communication members 206 of various shapes and sizes. Turning again to FIGS. 6 and 8, the reservoir 204 includes a sidewall 208 having two flanges 210 disposed on opposing sides of the sidewall 208. The flanges 210 are designed to retain the communication member 206 within the reservoir 204. Two finger spaces 212 interrupt the sidewall 208 on opposing sides thereof. The finger spaces 212 assist the user in removing the communication member 206 from the reservoir 204. In alternative embodiments the finger spaces 212 are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the lid 104 is adapted to include the removable communication member 206. The communication member 206 is attached to the main body portion 106 of the lid 104 by a perforated edge 214. In use, a user removes the communication member 206 from the lid 104. In some embodiments, the user may write a note on the communication member 206. In other embodiments, the communication member 206 may have a graphic or note already printed thereon. After separating the communication member 206 from the lid 104, the user inserts the communication member 206 into the reservoir 204 (see FIG. 6). The communication member 206 passes the flanges 210 disposed on the sidewall 208 and is seated and held within the reservoir 204. The bowl 102 may be transparent such that the graphic or note on the communication member 206 can be viewed through the bowl 102 when the communication member 206 is retained within the reservoir 204 (see FIG. 8). To remove the communication member 206 the user, or a different user, inserts his or her finger(s) into the finger spaces 212 and pops the communication member 206 out of the reservoir 204.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to certain embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which have been presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Numerous modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use what is herein disclosed and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within the scope of this disclosure are reserved. 

1. A container, comprising: a bowl including a bottom and a sidewall, wherein a ledge is disposed on an inner surface of the sidewall and includes two horizontal portions on opposing portions of the inner surface of the sidewall, the two horizontal portions having a lowermost portion defining a plane Y therebetween; and a paperboard lid removably retained within the bowl, wherein the lid arches upwardly in a continuous curve to an apex that lies in a plane Z, which is parallel to the plane Y, and wherein the distance between the plane Y and the plane Z is between about 0.15 cm to about 1.3 cm.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the paperboard lid includes first and second pairs of parallel edges.
 3. The container of claim 1, wherein the ledge includes at least one arched portion having a radius of curvature of between about 15 cm to about 160 cm.
 4. The container of claim 2, wherein at least one nub is disposed above the ledge and wherein the at least one nub and the ledge form a gap therebetween.
 5. The container of claim 4, wherein the first and second pairs of parallel edges are disposed within the gap when the lid is retained within the bowl.
 6. The container of claim 5, wherein the lid includes a tab.
 7. The container of claim 6, wherein the bowl includes at least two nubs having a space therebetween for receiving the tab therein.
 8. The container of claim 7, wherein the bowl includes a plurality of spaces such that the lid can be inserted in multiple orientations.
 9. A bowl for a container, comprising: a bottom; a sidewall; and a ledge disposed on an interior surface of the sidewall, wherein the ledge includes at least one arched portion and at least one horizontal portion, wherein the arched portion has a radius of curvature of between about 15 cm to about 160 cm.
 10. The bowl of claim 9, wherein the sidewall comprises first, second, third, and fourth portions.
 11. The bowl of claim 9 further including at least one nub disposed above the ledge, wherein the at least one nub and the ledge define a gap therebetween for retaining a lid therein.
 12. The bowl of claim 11, wherein the bowl includes a plurality of nubs of varying lengths.
 13. The bowl of claim 9, wherein the ledge includes two opposing arched portions.
 14. The bowl of claim 13, wherein the ledge includes two opposing horizontal portions having angled surfaces.
 15. A lid, comprising: a body portion having a planar profile in a non-deflected state and first and second pairs of opposing edges, wherein the first and second pairs of edges are coextensive with the planar profile of the body portion in the non-deflected state when not placed on a container, and wherein the first pair of edges is coextensive, and the second pair of edges is not coextensive, with the planar profile of the body portion in the deflected state when the body portion is placed on a container.
 16. The lid of claim 15, wherein the second pair of edges have a radius of curvature of between about 15 cm to about 160 cm when the lid is in the deflected state.
 17. The lid of claim 15 further including a tab.
 18. The lid of claim 15 further including a communication member attached thereto.
 19. The lid of claim 18, wherein the communication member is attached to the lid by a perforated portion.
 20. The lid of claim 15, wherein the lid is seated on a container to cause the second pair of edges to be placed into the deflected state. 